08/10/2012 -- The Wayne Mills band opens the show at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater for Merle Haggard on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 9:35 p.m.

A country music artist with strong Tuscaloosa ties was shot and killed by the owner of a Nashville bar.

Wayne Mills, 44, was shot in the head by the owner of Pit and Barrel bar in downtown Nashville, according to media reports. The Tennessean newspaper reported that Mills and bar owner Chris Michael Ferrell, 44, began to fight after Mills lit a cigarette in a non-smoking area of the bar around 5 a.m. Saturday. Other people in the bar went outside, and said they heard gunshots from the parking lot, according to the newspaper report.

Ferrell told officers that he shot in self-defense, according to The Tennessean, and was not arrested. He declined to speak with the reporter who visited the bar on Saturday.

Mills was from Arab in northeast Alabama, but called Tuscaloosa home for many years. The Wayne Mills Band played regular Tuesday night gigs at Harry's Bar and was a fixture at other Tuscaloosa bars and fraternity parties during the 1990s and 2000s. As the band's following grew, Tuscaloosa remained the hometown and base of the band that toured the Southeastern college circuit and eventually Europe and Australia. He recently moved to Nashville.

Mills and his band were the opening act for Merle Haggard at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in August 2012.

The band recently opened for Mills's close friend, country artist Jamey Johnson, at the Jupiter Bar on Nov. 15. He wrote on his Facebook page that the visit to Tuscaloosa was like coming home.

As news of his death spread Saturday, shocked fans and friends posted memories and condolences on the band's Facebook page and on Twitter.

"RIP my friend Wayne Mills," performer Shooter Jennings wrote on Twitter. "I love you brother. I am devastated." Jennings' father Waylon Jennings was a pioneer of the outlaw country movement that Mills was bringing to a new generation of fans.

Before pursuing music as a career, Mills played baseball at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville and football at The University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in education.

The country music site savingcountrymusic.com posted a tribute to Mills Saturday evening.

"Though Mills never rose to become a household name, his influence on country music cannot be understated," the post read.

He received a Guardian Award from the newly created Outlaw Music Hall of Fame earlier this year.

"Outlaw by definition is one that is unconventional or rebellious," the band's Facebook page says in the biography section. "Wayne Mills by definition is one that is a stiff-necked country troubadour with an affinity for honky-tonks and possessing a style of rustic simplicity."

Mills died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and son.

"Wayne was a local hero," said friend and fellow musician Jacob Thompson. "Everybody knew him and loved him and his music. He will be missed by many people. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to know him and for all the music that he made. He was such an important part of the local musical family.

"It's such a shame the way it happened. His surviving family are in my thoughts in the days ahead."

<p>A country music artist with strong Tuscaloosa ties was shot and killed by the owner of a Nashville bar.</p><p>Wayne Mills, 44, was shot in the head by the owner of Pit and Barrel bar in downtown Nashville, according to media reports. The Tennessean newspaper reported that Mills and bar owner Chris Michael Ferrell, 44, began to fight after Mills lit a cigarette in a non-smoking area of the bar around 5 a.m. Saturday. Other people in the bar went outside, and said they heard gunshots from the parking lot, according to the newspaper report.</p><p>Ferrell told officers that he shot in self-defense, according to The Tennessean, and was not arrested. He declined to speak with the reporter who visited the bar on Saturday.</p><p>Mills was from Arab in northeast Alabama, but called Tuscaloosa home for many years. The Wayne Mills Band played regular Tuesday night gigs at Harry's Bar and was a fixture at other Tuscaloosa bars and fraternity parties during the 1990s and 2000s. As the band's following grew, Tuscaloosa remained the hometown and base of the band that toured the Southeastern college circuit and eventually Europe and Australia. He recently moved to Nashville.</p><p>Mills and his band were the opening act for Merle Haggard at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in August 2012.</p><p>The band recently opened for Mills's close friend, country artist Jamey Johnson, at the Jupiter Bar on Nov. 15. He wrote on his Facebook page that the visit to Tuscaloosa was like coming home.</p><p>As news of his death spread Saturday, shocked fans and friends posted memories and condolences on the band's Facebook page and on Twitter.</p><p>"RIP my friend Wayne Mills," performer Shooter Jennings wrote on Twitter. "I love you brother. I am devastated." Jennings' father Waylon Jennings was a pioneer of the outlaw country movement that Mills was bringing to a new generation of fans.</p><p>Before pursuing music as a career, Mills played baseball at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville and football at The University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in education.</p><p>The country music site savingcountrymusic.com posted a tribute to Mills Saturday evening.</p><p>"Though Mills never rose to become a household name, his influence on country music cannot be understated," the post read. </p><p>He received a Guardian Award from the newly created Outlaw Music Hall of Fame earlier this year. </p><p>"Outlaw by definition is one that is unconventional or rebellious," the band's Facebook page says in the biography section. "Wayne Mills by definition is one that is a stiff-necked country troubadour with an affinity for honky-tonks and possessing a style of rustic simplicity."</p><p>Mills died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Saturday. He is survived by his wife and son.</p><p>"Wayne was a local hero," said friend and fellow musician Jacob Thompson. "Everybody knew him and loved him and his music. He will be missed by many people. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to know him and for all the music that he made. He was such an important part of the local musical family.</p><p>"It's such a shame the way it happened. His surviving family are in my thoughts in the days ahead."</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>